The Empathy Project
Chatham High School
April 2021
assisted by a grant from the
State Farm Teacher Assist program
**permission has been granted to share all work**
Enjoy our projects!
The Empathy Project was conceived during Summer 2020 when, recognizing the wellness needs of our students and community, Samantha McShane and Kate Jarrard were planning even more ways to integrate social-emotional learning into the performance ensembles. They ran across an inkling of this idea, then turned it into a full project. During the third quarter, band, chorus, and orchestra students identified a person or community group that they wanted to reach out to and selected a song to prepare and share with them. With a grant from the State Farm Teacher Assist Program, students were able to use high-quality microphones and mixing software to record, collaborate, master, and produce a finished product they can be proud of.
“Arcade Fire”
Composed by Jonathan Bintz/CHS Band
Dedicated to Mr. Gitto who has regularly attended our concerts and been a constant support and inspiration for our music community.
As a band class, we discussed principals of style, melody, harmony, orchestration, character in music, meter, form and many other components of the composition project. Through multiple group sessions we crafted a narrative reflecting our experience throughout the pandemic and selected musical ideas to represent those ideas. Mr. Bintz composed the work with artistic input from our ensemble in preparation for recording.
Using PracticeFirst and Soundtrap software, students recorded their individual parts to a high threshold of success. These recordings were compiled into a virtual ensemble by Cody Okonski and what you hear is the result of hours of practice, discussion, hard work, trial and error. Please enjoy our original composition and world premier of “Arcade Fire.”
Notes about Arcade Fire
“Arcade Fire” is a work that takes influence from the “hero’s journey.” Our Story starts with the Hero already in battle with an antagonist. The disjunct and unsettled feeling of the 5/4 (counted 1-2-3_4-5) time signature is a conflict of three (hero) against two(antagonist)- a theme present throughout the work- Our Hero is overcome and falls into despair and lament highlighted by our trumpet section. While grasping for identity or purpose and a shifting of musical meter, our hero finds himself meeting another hero from a previous time. Our mentor in the “hero’s Journey” has arrived with a similar theme, our Hero is compelled back into action and with the support of a mentor and lessons (themes) learned from the past encounter, establishes a riotous victory where all of the thematic material is weaved together.
The narrative we constructed as a class was influenced by our experiences during the pandemic, as well as many flavors from video games and movies that got us through our personal hardships. Many of us felt moments of defeat, isolation, moments of utter chaos and moments of hope with mentors who were there when we needed them most. Here’s to weaving a summer of stories and victories, looking to a better tomorrow.
CHS Band Members
Conductor/Composer: Jonathan Bintz
Arranger/Coordinator: Cody Okonski
Flute - Ben Halpin, Alyssa Laurange, Ethan Halpin, Isabella Spencer, Lily Strattman, Emilee Booy
Clarinet - Calliroe barlow, Alice Tassinari, Elise Salvesvold-Uhlar, Helen Tassinari, Isabella Wiseman, Jenna Palubeckis, Katherine Marotta
Saxophone - Amelia Scheriff, Grayson Van Wie, Alex Bevens, Hannah Meyer, Julia Metrando, Josef Reed, Elizabeth Morse, Brandon Gearing, Katelyn Thomas
Horn - Hannah Shufelt
Trumpet - Ryan Graziano, Brycen Haner, Sam Hoffman, Amanda Roberts, Jordan Fisher, Alaina Graziano, Anthony O’Dell, Sascha Backer
Low Brass - Noah Hutchinson, Christian Edwards, A.J. Reyome, Hailey Ruff, Tate Van Alstyne
Percussion - Ethan Narofsky, Robert Bruneau, Alexis Reichardt, Jacob Rippel, Jonah Howard, Akiah Winfield-Cunningham
Ian Freiermuth
We’ll Meet Again - TheFatRat
Thanks to Hannah Kelly, Hannah Spock, Hannah Braley, Alice Tassinari, Jordan Simmons, Samantha Hoffman, Ms. Jarrard and Ms. McShane for making this possible!
I made this song for anyone who likes it, and selected it because it’s cool!
Happy
Maya Narofsky and Alaina Graziano
“Happy” By Pharrell Williams
Sung for Alaina’s grandparents
We selected this song because it makes people happy and brings joy to the room.
Click on the microphone to play!
Dancing Queen
Ashley Gleason
“Dancing Queen” by ABBA
Prepared for my grandfather.
My grandfather has always enjoyed musicals, especially Mamma Mia, so this song seemed appropriate.
Viva La Vida by Coldplay
Lauren Bruck (Violin) and Maya Case (Cello)
We prepared this song for our family.
We selected this song for no particular reason. We thought it would be the right amount of challenging while also being able to get it done in the time limit.
Danny Boy
Anna and John Miles
Frederic Weatherly
Sung for Grandparents
We selected this song due to its harmonic sound and soothing rhythm.
(Hover over the volume button here, hit the play button when the pop up comes up and enjoy!)
Among Us Drip
Nole Zaik
Composed by “Oh.hi.there”
I prepared this song for my friend Lane
I selected this song as a joke and it turned out to be very fun to play and create
Art by Me
She Will Hang the Night With Stars
Anna & John Miles (+ Ms. Jarrard)
We prepared it for our grandparents.
They really like hearing us play and we were so excited to share this piece with them to show hope.
(Hover over the volume button here, hit the play button when the pop up comes up and enjoy!)
My song by Anthony Reyome
Written by Anthony Reyome Jr.
I shared this song with a good friend of mine.
I made this song because this person has been very helpful during the quarantine.
The Other Side
Christianna Gearing
“The Other Side”
By Ruelle
Sung for my friend Kourtney
It’s soft, pretty, and can be
used as sort of a platonic ballad
and not just a romantic song.
By: Willie Nelson
Erin Madsen
I prepared this song for my grandfather because it is his favorite song at the moment
Can't Help Falling in Love..
Old Man River
Performed by Daniel Baneni Jr.
From: “Show Boat”, 1936�Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein�Composer: Jerome Kern
For Mrs. McShane’s Father
A song chosen to vocalize the struggles of these trying times. Utilizes the vocal range of a bass.
Marcello - Adagio
I chose this song because I LIKE it a lot.
I played this for my aunt, whose love for the cello is UNPARALLELED.
If only she had someone who knew how to play it well
~ Gabe Rippel
Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day - Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong
Performed by Lily Strattman with Piano from McShane
I performed this song for my grandpa's sister.
I choose this song because it talks about about how the person who wrote this song (Billie Joe) felt about the death of his father and I thought it was very relatable for what I wanted to do because my grandpa and his sister’s mom had passed away that summer.
Fix You
Coldplay
Alexis Reichardt
Sung for Iris Davis
Provides solace and comfort and empathizes with listeners when they are in a bad place.
Diana castellanos
The Swan
Franz schubert
I prepared this for my grandparents
I selected this song because I liked they way it sounded
Everybody Says Don't
I selected this song because it was my NYSSMA piece and because it as a determination and drive behind the lyrics that I think should be a little bit more widespread, especially during times like these.
By: Fiona Phelps
From: Anyone Can Whistle
I prepared this song for my grandparents
Alright By Jonah Howard
Written By Jonah Howard
I prepared and wrote this song for my grandma
I did this song Because My grandma has not been to anything music in over a year so this might ease her for a little while
Link to song
Is the sound button down below
Oh Del Mio Dolce Ardor
Anna Miles (+ Mrs. McShane)
I prepared it for NYSSMA and my grandparents.
They love hearing me sing my NYSSMA pieces and I knew they would love this one. I choose this song for its power tone and message.
(Click the play button and enjoy!)
Meghan Hay
“Concerto No.5 1st Movement”
F. Seitz
I prepared this song for a friend of mine because he has never heard me play.
I selected this song because I was familiar with it and it’s fun to play.
The Swan
By Tobias Jeralds with help from Ms. Jarrard
I shared this song with my mother and grandmother
I chose this song after I Played it for NYSSMA and loved it so much.
The Thrill is Gone by B.B. King
Hannah Spock
For my grandmother.
I chose this song because it is one of my grandmothers’ favorite songs.